Sector Education and Training Authorities run SA's learnerships, apprenticeships and bursaries. Find the SETA aligned to your industry to earn while you learn.
South Africa has 21 SETAs (Sector Education and Training Authorities). Each covers a specific economic sector and is responsible for skills development, learnerships, apprenticeships and bursaries within that sector. SETAs are overseen by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and funded by the Skills Development Levy (1% of payroll paid by employers).
A SETA learnership is a 12-month contract that mixes classroom theory with real workplace time at an employer inside the sector. It leads to a registered qualification on the National Qualifications Framework, usually at NQF Level 2 to 5.
Stipends vary by SETA and sector. Entry-level learnerships typically pay R3 500 to R6 500 per month. Artisan apprenticeships (MERSETA, CETA, EWSETA) pay more, often R5 000 to R9 000 per month. Graduate internships through BANKSETA or FASSET can reach R8 000 to R12 000 monthly.
A typical week splits roughly 70% workplace and 30% classroom. You clock in at the employer most days and attend training at an accredited provider one or two days a week, or in blocked weeks. Tax on stipends up to a threshold is zero because learnerships qualify for the SARS Section 12H tax allowance.
At the end of the contract, you walk out with a registered qualification, real work experience on your CV, and a reference. Employers are not required to keep you on, but many do for learners who perform well, especially in scarce-skill roles.
Click through to the official site of the SETA aligned to your career to find live learnerships, apprenticeships and bursaries.
| Acronym | Full name | Sector | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| AGRISETA | Agricultural Sector Education and Training Authority | Agriculture, forestry, fisheries | Visit |
| BANKSETA | Banking Sector Education and Training Authority | Banking and financial services | Visit |
| CATHSSETA | Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport SETA | Tourism, hospitality, sport, conservation, gaming, arts, culture | Visit |
| CETA | Construction Education and Training Authority | Construction, built environment | Visit |
| CHIETA | Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority | Chemical industries (petroleum, pharmaceuticals, plastics) | Visit |
| ETDP SETA | Education, Training and Development Practices SETA | Education, training and development | Visit |
| EWSETA | Energy and Water SETA | Energy, water, gas, nuclear, renewable energy | Visit |
| FASSET | Finance and Accounting Services SETA | Finance, accounting, auditing, business services | Visit |
| FOODBEV SETA | Food and Beverage Manufacturing SETA | Food and beverage manufacturing | Visit |
| FP&M SETA | Fibre Processing and Manufacturing SETA | Forestry, paper, pulp, printing, clothing, textiles, leather | Visit |
| HWSETA | Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority | Health, social development, veterinary, pharmaceuticals | Visit |
| INSETA | Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority | Insurance, risk management | Visit |
| LGSETA | Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority | Local government and municipalities | Visit |
| MERSETA | Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services SETA | Automotive, metal, engineering, plastics, motor retail, new tyre, manufacturing | Visit |
| MICT SETA | Media, Information and Communication Technologies SETA | ICT, electronics, telecommunications, advertising, film, broadcasting | Visit |
| MQA | Mining Qualifications Authority | Mining and minerals | Visit |
| PSETA | Public Service Sector Education and Training Authority | National and provincial government, public administration | Visit |
| SASSETA | Safety and Security Sector Education and Training Authority | Policing, corrections, defence, justice, legal, private security | Visit |
| SERVICES SETA | Services Sector Education and Training Authority | Personal services, business services, real estate, marketing, communication, project management, hairdressing, funeral services | Visit |
| TETA | Transport Education and Training Authority | Transport (road freight, road passenger, rail, maritime, aviation, taxi, forwarding and clearing) | Visit |
| W&RSETA | Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority | Wholesale, retail, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) | Visit |
A SETA (Sector Education and Training Authority) is a public body that drives skills development in a specific economic sector. Employers fund SETAs through the Skills Development Levy (1% of payroll). Each SETA runs learnerships, apprenticeships, bursaries and skills programmes in its sector. SA has 21 SETAs, each covering a different industry.
South Africa has 21 SETAs covering sectors from agriculture and banking to mining, transport, retail, ICT, construction, health, manufacturing and the public service. Each SETA is overseen by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).
A learnership mixes classroom theory with real workplace experience. It leads to a registered NQF qualification. You earn a stipend (set per sector by the relevant SETA) while you learn. Unlike a regular job, the contract runs for the length of the programme (usually 12 months), and the employer doesn't have to keep you on after it ends.
Finding a learnership can take time, but the path is straightforward. Start by picking the SETA that lines up with your career interest from the list below. Visit that SETA's official site (linked in the table) and check their Learnerships, Apprenticeships, Bursaries or Internships pages. Most learnerships come from the employers inside the SETA, not the SETA itself, so follow corporates active in your sector too. You usually need a certified ID, your latest school qualifications and a CV.
A TVET college is where you study a programme. A SETA is a regulator and funder that quality-assures qualifications and runs learnerships in a specific sector. TVET NCV and NATED programmes often line up with a SETA. Many trade qualifications split the load: you do theory at a TVET and the workplace component with a SETA-sponsored employer.